Request Media Kit

Dropbox Gets Google-Like Two-Step Verification

Dropbox announced today that it is launching a new two-step verification feature to make the service more secure. It requires two levels of authentication to log in: a password, and a security code th...
Dropbox Gets Google-Like Two-Step Verification
Written by Chris Crum
  • Dropbox announced today that it is launching a new two-step verification feature to make the service more secure. It requires two levels of authentication to log in: a password, and a security code that will either be texted to the user’s phone or generated by a mobile authenticator app for iOS, Android, Blackberry and Windows 7.

    Many Google users are familiar with this type of system, which it made available to all users in February 2011. It got some attention earlier this month, thanks to the highly publicized hacking of Wired writer Mat Honan, who acknowledged that had he set up the feature, much of his trouble could have possibly been avoided.

    Google’s Matt Cutts blogged about it dispelling some myths.

    “Turning on two-step verification is simple,” Dropbox’s Dan Wheeler says of the new feature. “Go to the new Security tab in your Dropbox account settings and enable two-step verification in the ‘Account sign in’ section.”

    “From there, just follow the steps to set up two-step verification,” he adds. “Detailed setup instructions are also available in our Help Center. On your desktop or mobile devices, you’ll only need the code the first time you sign in to Dropbox. On the web, you can also select the option to “Trust this computer” and you won’t need to re-enter a code again.”

    In addition to two-step verification, Dropbox also now has away to view all active logins to your account through the Security tab. The company says it is also working on automated mechanisms to identify suspicious activity.

    Get the WebProNews newsletter
    delivered to your inbox

    Get the free daily newsletter read by decision makers

    Subscribe
    Advertise with Us

    Ready to get started?

    Get our media kit